Reports: 16-year-old stabbing suspect turns himself in

Jan. 31, 2016 10:49 A.M. (Updated: Feb. 6, 2016 2:23 P.M.)

Israeli emergency services clean the site of a stabbing attack carried out by an 18-year-old Palestinian on an Israeli border policeman on June 21, 2015, at the Damascus Gate. (AFP/Ahmad Gharabli, File)

BETHLEHEM (Maan) -- A 16-year-old Palestinian turned himself into Israeli police custody on Sunday in connection with a stabbing attack on Saturday that left one Israeli teen lightly injured, Israeli media reported.

Israel daily Haaretz reported that the Palestinian, who has yet to be identified, turned himself in after learning Israeli forces suspected him of being involved in the attack.

The 16-year-old is reportedly from a neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem.

An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Following the stabbing attack, Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri told Ma'an that two Palestinian minors from East Jerusalem had been detained by Israeli forces on suspicions of being linked to the attack, but that Israeli forces were still searching the area.

The 17-year-old Israeli who was stabbed and lightly injured was attacked while leaving the Western Wall after prayer on his way to a military prep school in Jerusalem, Haaretz reported.

Israeli new site Ynet reported that the Ultra-Orthodox teen had moved to Israel from New York a month and a half ago.

Until last week, most Palestinians attacks in 2016 had been directed at Israeli military forces and settlers in the West Bank.

This was the first confirmed stabbing attack in Jerusalem since late December, when two Palestinian from Qalandiya were shot and killed after stabbing two Israelis near Jaffa Gate, one of whom succumbed to his injuries.

Since a wave of unrest began in occupied East Jerusalem in October and spread across the West Bank and Israel, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, and over 20 Israelis have died in attacks.